Phase calculating device



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 20, 1947a u .u o n A v LenzZ' B'S 'Inger In vemor y Werner u d il... 45 678% E May 20, 1947. l x w. LENZLINGER 2,420,751

PHASE CALGULATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1942 a sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 4

El n lf3 n im "B 1m 'lll m. m4 [El mv. m 17 ra v In ven'for werner LenzZ-ner ATToRNEus My 2o, 1947.

W. LENZLINGER PHASE CALCULATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n venor Werner C22-MJA non Paiented May 20, 1947 2,420,751 PHASE CALCULATING DEVICE Werner Lenzlinger, Zurich, Switzerland Application December 12, 1942, Serial No. 468,845

In Switzerland December 16, 1941 (Cl. 23S-61) 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus designed to determine at any `given moment the state oi at least one periodically recurring occurrence, assuming that the duration oi the period and the starting time of the periodical occurrence are known. This determination is achieved through calculation of a number characterising the state inquired into; the calculation consists oi consecutive addition and subtraction of numbers characterising the starting moment of the occurrence and the time at which it is desired to determine the state of the said occurrence. The calculating process is automatically carried out by switching step by step at least one indicating organ in dependence on the position of other organs set from hand in accordance with the data supplied. The apparatus is characterised in such a manner that the extent of the shifting of the indicating organ corresponds to the complement oi the number cliaracterising the state it is desired to determineto a number xed in advance. Thus is obtained. the propulsion in one single direction of the indicating organ for carrying out subtractions as well as additions. The indicating organ is inscribed in such a way that the state of the periodically recurring occurrence it is desired to determine can be ascertained by direct reading.

The numbers serving as basis for the calculation, characterising the starting time of the periodically recurring occurrence and the time at which it is desired to ascertain the state of the said occurrence, are so-called characteristics i. e., a kind of code numbers, co-ordinated to the data, i. e., points of time, given. The signification of these characteristics shall be explained by way of example before describing fully a performed model of the apparatus.

It is assumed that the periodical occurrence contains a certain number of full days. Assuming the start of the occurrence to fall in a given day To, the number p--characterising the state it is desired to ascertain for any one day Tx--is given by the formula:

in the example shown in Fig. 1 of the enclosed drawing the start of a periodically recurring occurrence .falls on the eighth day of a month. The period T of this occurrence is supposed to be 23 days, by way or example. Ii it is desired to determine the state o this occurrence on the 14th day of the same month the number characterising this state according to the Formula 1 will be: p-14-8=6. This means that on the 14th day of the month the occurrence has reached the sixth day of its period.

The calculation is more diiiicult when the period of time which has elapsed from the start of the occurrence includes any arbitrary number of days. In this case the number p characterizing the state of the occurrence on any one day Tx will be found by using the formula:

p=(T e-To) RLT (2) in which lc represents the number of full periods. Should, for instance, the occurrence 'start on 5th January 1941 and the period last 23 days-.the state of the occurrence on 7th June 1941 will be calculated as follows: 12:(158-5) 623:15 The difference (158-5) represents the number of days elapsed between 5th January and 7th June. The factor c=6 gives the number of full periods within this interval of time. Should this interval of time extend over several years, months and days, the calculation becomes naturally still more complicated and the direct determination of the numbers charactersing the state ofthe periodical occurrence on a given day a more difficult matter. For this reason another method using the characteristics mentioned. at the' outset has been selected. The determination of these characteristics is eiected any zero time fixed in advance. The difference between the two characteristics gives the value characterising the state of the occurrence. This method, working with characteristics, shall be more particularly explained in connection with the example described above. 1st January 1941, 0 oclock a. m. has been selected as zero time. On 31st January 24 ocloclr one full period of 23 days and 31-23=8 days will have elapsed. On 28th February one period and 8-1-28z36 days will have elapsed, i. e., 1 period-l-l period-H3 days, or 2 full periods-H3 days. On 31st March the time elapsed since 1st January amounts to 3 full periods-l- 21 days; on 30th April-to 5 periods-ldays; on 31st May--to 6 periods-H3 days. For the interval ending on '7th June-7 more days are to be added, i. e., 6X23-l-20 days have elapsed since 1st January. Since, however, the occurrence did not start on 1st January, but on 5th January, 5 days have to be deducted. This results in the number p characterising the state of the occurrence on 7th June being ascertained as pim-5:15. The abovementioned numbers 8, 13, 21, 5 and 13 are selected as characteristics for all dates falling on the months of February, March, April, May and June. The months characteristic can thus be dened as the number resulting from the number of days between 1st J anuary and the rst day of each particular monthafter subtraction of the number of the days ineluded in the full periods. These characteristics can be calculated in advance, not only for the months, but also for the days of the month, for the years, decades, centuries, etc. Thus, to determine the state of a periodical occurrence at any given moment it is not required any longer to calculate the total number of days elapsed between the starting moment of the occurrence and the moment in which the state of the periodical occurrence shall be determined; the only data required are the characteristics of the starting moment and of the moment for which the state shall be determined.

According to the above denition the January characteristic is zero where zero time falls on 1st January, 0 oclock. In leap-years the 29th Februaiy has, of course, to be specially considered. In this case the characteristic for March is no longer 13, but 14. The characteristics of the months March to December inclusive ln leap-years exceed by one unit each the characteristics of the same months for ordinary years. The result remains naturally the same if the characteristics for January and February are reduced by one unit each instead. This is connected with a slight simplification in the practical design of the apparatus, since leap-years have to be paid special consideration in the case of two monthly characteristics only, instead of ten.

The following table is a monthly characteristics:

compilation of the Table I Characteristics Month M Normal year Leap-year November 5 6 5 December l2 13 12 Similar tables can now be compiled for the other time divisions. Up to the period duration the characteristics of the days of the month correspond to the order numbers of the days themselves. Beyond this the period duration has to be deducted. For a periodical occurrence with a 23 day-period, for instance, the characteristic for the 25th day of a month equals 25-23=2, when-as is advisablezero time for the daily characteristic falls on the iirst of the month. By means of these characteristics the state of the periodical occurrence in the example selected can be very easily determined from the diierence between the characteristics of the days and months, as follows:

p= (Tx-i-Mx) (T0+M0) in which formula the (3) daily characteristics are designated by T, and the monthly characteristics 7 by M. For the 5th January T0=5, Mur-0; for the 7th June Tz='7, M=13. It follows that:

the yearly units, decades and centuries, etc., presents no particular diiculties. For instance, the characteristic for the yearly unit zero is fixed at zero; it follows that the characteristic for the year 1 will be 20, since 365-15.23+20. The leapyears must, of course, be taken into account here too, duly taking in consideration the fact that certain decades include 2 leap-years, and others 3 leap-years. If we split up any number of indieating a year into units and decades the matter of the leap-yea-rs can be accurately circumscribed, since the odd decades contain two, and the even decades three leap-years each. The following tables can now be evolved for the characteristics of the yearly units and decades to be determined in advance:

Table I] 1 Characteristic E Yearly units r odd decades oven decades -l u c o r 1 I 2o 2u i 2 I 18 17 l 3 15 14 4 12 12 1 9 .0 c i 7 c T Al 1 3 X i l i 1 E) 2l 21 1 l I i Table III n n l l Cliarac- Clmracx ,l Chur-uc- Decndc tcristic Z Dewi() l tcristic Z UWM@ tcrstc Z I 0 180 o ico o 1s 181 g 1s 191 1s 14 182 g 14 192 14 9 183 l E) 193 9 5 184 5 191 5 17 0 185 0 y 105 0 176 19 iso 19 196 19 177 14 137 1 11 197 14 17s 1o les l 10 19s 1o 179 5 isc 5 199 5 With the assistance of the data supplied by the above tables it is now possible to determine, for a periodical occurrence with a 23 day-period, the state of this occurrence at any time between 1st January 1760 and 31st December 1999, assuming ci course that the starting moment of the periodical occurrence also falls within these limits.

If we designate the characteristics for days, months, yearly units and decades with Tx, To, Mx, Mo, Ex, Ec, ZX, Zn respectively-the state oi the periodical occurrence .vill be determined by the general formula:

On 6th February 1793 the periodical occurrence ls in the 11th day of its period. When checking this result we find that between 8th November Therefrom v 1738 and 6th February 1793 54 years, 2 months and 29 days have elapsed, therefore in the aggregate, including 14 leap-days, iQSlA days. During this interval oi time Sl 11/3 periods have elapsed, i. e., periodical occurrence is actually in the 11th day of its period. This tallies with the result oi the above calculation achieved by means oi characteristics.

All the examples given reifer to an occurrence with a 23 day-period. There is, of course, noth ing to prevent the same method from being used for determining the state of occurrences with another period duration. There are, or course, different characteristics for each period duration.

As can be noticed from the Formula 4 the value p characterising the state inquired into is represented by the diierence between two values. In order to comply with the requirement that the indicating organs of the apparatus designed to carri7 out the calculating process should be switched step by step in one single direction, the indicating organ will be shifted to the extent corresponding to the complement p of the value p to a fixed number K, not to the extent corre- Instead of the spending to the value p itself. Formula 1 p=TzT0 We determine the value:

p:Tol-(KTl-) (5) By comparing the formulas 1 and 5 we get:

p'=K-p (6) Theoretically, the value K may be represented by any positive number. It is advisable in practice to select K as small as possible so as to limit the pitch range. In view, however, ci the necessity of complying with the requirement of switching in one direction the value selected for K may not be smaller than the greatest possible characteristic. This means that it will be advisable to equal K to the period duration.

The indicating organ is not inscribed with the values of p', but with those or" p so as to find the result p by direct reading. Since the registering organ is switched forward in one direction for the two data given, it is possible to use, for building up the apparatus, elements of automatic telephony, such as relays and step-by-step switch selectors.

The enclosed drawing shows a constructional example of execution of the apparatus according to the present invention, as described below.

Fig. l serves to explain the calculating process.

Fig. 2 is a View from above of a constructional example of an apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematical cross-section of this constructional example along the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the reading scales enlarged.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of connection of the constructional example.

The apparatus described below serves for determining simultaneously the state of three different periodical occurrences. The period of the nrst occurrence is 23 days, of the second one-28 days, and of the third one- 33 days. The apparatus has a range suihcient to investigate these periodical occurrences within the time interval between lst January 1700 and 31st December 1999.

To set the two data supplied (start of the occurrence and time for which the state of the occurrence is to be determined) four hand-operated switches are used: 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Fig. 2). Of

6. these, the first one serves to set the day number. the second one-.fthe month, the third one--the decade, and the fourth onethe yearly unit. The splitting up of the number indicating the year into yearly units and decades makes the use of simple hand-operated switches possible. The data corresponding to the setting of these switches appear behind small windows onthe actuating switch-board. The determination of the state of the occurrence now takes place in accordance with the Relation 4 previously mentioned. The handfoperated switches are designed as rotary step switches, each step being connected by wire-in a manner partly to be seen in Fig. 5-With the contact plate of a stepby-step switching rotary selector D acting as guiding selector. Two push-keys Tal and Ta2, respectively, are used for starting the apparatus for registering the iirst and second sum, respectively, of the difference p. The apparatus can be set back to zero position by means of key Ta3. A signal lamp BL lights up during the setting and registering process.

The reading device (Fig. 4) is arranged besides the switch board provided with switch buttons, lamp and keys. There are ve scales side by side: M, data W, day and 1. The scales M, W and I are tted on the endless strips 5 (Fig. 2) which are switched forward step by step in the direction indicated by the arrow P. These strips are inscribed with numbers indicating the period days of the different occurronces. Positive and negative half of the periods are coloured differently so as to be distinguished more clearly. In the drawing, Fig. 4, each positive part is provided with black rims.

The date scale contains the daily dates 1-31 and is fixed. The day scale contains the names of the week-days and is made to slide to and fro (arrow PI) so as to be brought to coincide with the date scale according to the date to be controlled. For this purpose a table, e. g., Written at the place I8 below scales, may be used. Eventually a calendar for the running and yperhaps of the neighbouring years is quite Sunicient.

The strips 5, preferably 16 mm. (1%6 in.) film strips, are stretched on two rollers 6 and 1 each (Fig. 3); the one, 6, is geared and inuenced by a step-by-step switched electro-magnet 8. This electro-magnet controls an armature 9 with an arm Iil carrying a pawl I I and bringing this latter into engagement with a gear wheel I2. This gear wheel I2 is rigidly coupled with the roll 6. A cam disc I5 actuated by the roll 6 over a reduction gear I3, I4 controls an alternating contact I6. The transmission ratio of the gear is such that the cam disc accomplishes a full revolution when the strip is switched forward for as many steps as correspond to a period. The length of each strip must be such that it corresponds to an entire multiple of periods. For the strip M this revolution corresponds to 23, for the strip W-to 28, and for the strip I-to 33 steps. The contacts i6 controlled by the cam discs serve to bring automatically the strips into position of rest. This is characterised by the fact that the gure (number) l of each strip is standing at the same height as the ligure 1 of the date scale. The armature 9 of each step-by-step switching magnet controls moreover a working contact I'I whose function shall be explained later. Each strip must be as long as to run over its whole length when switched forward over so many steps as one or several complete periods contain. Thus each strip is at least as long as the distance of so many scale-divisions as the corresponding period, respectively several complete periods, contain. Of course this entire number of periods must be at least so large as to allow each strip to cover at least its scale window. Thus the strips M, W and I have different lengths generally, and consequently request diierent axle-distances of the different roll-couples 6, 7.

The diagram of connections of the apparatus shall now be briefly described with the help of Fig. 5. In Fig. all relay contacts are, in the conventional manner, in the resting, unexcitated position. The hand-operated switches and 2 are each provided with three contact rows TI to TIII, and MI to MITI, respectively; the handoperated switches 3 and 4-each with four contact rows ZI to ZIV, and EI to EIV, respectively. The contact rows I to III of each handoperated switch are connected by wire with the contact rows swept by the selector arms dI, dII, dIII of the rotary selector D acting as guiding selector. In Fig. 5 only those wire connections are shown that are required for demonstrating one example of calculation. Between the contact rows ZIV to EIV of the hand-operated switches 3 and 4 an additional special connection is provided including 3 relays J l, J 2 and S by means of which it is possible to make corrections in the results obtained. These corrections serve to take leap-years into account. In order to keep the number of contacts on the relays JI and J2 as low as possible the characteristics for the months or January and February are reduced by one unit for leap-years, as previously explained. This means that the characteristics contained in the third column of Table I are being applied. The step-by-step switching electromagnets for the forward switching of the strips are designated with M, W, I. The corresponding set-back contacts are designated with m0, w, z', the armature contacts with m, w, z". A twelve step controller switch Si with arms stI to stVIII also fullls a few switching functions which shall be explained later on with the help of an example of calculation. Several relays C, F, U, V, Pm, Pw and Pi serve furthermore for establishing various circuits.

The rst step of the hand-operated switch Z coincides with the 170th decade decade 179 step I3l) to decade 199. The rst step of the hand-operated switch E corresponds to the year zero the th t0 the 9th year unit.

The working of the apparatus shall now be described with the assistance of a sample calculation. We are assuming that three periodical occurrences M, W, I with a 23 day-, 28 dayand 33 day-period, respectively, started simultaneously on 8th November 1738. The state of these periodical occurrences on 6th February i793 is to be determined.

For each of these two numbers characterising the time (date) the following Table IV contains in the columns step the respective contact number (step) upon which each of the switches T, M, Z, E has to be set by hand. The numbers in the columns dI, dII and dIII are deduced from the above-mentioned characteristics (characteristical numbers) and mark the wire-connections of the hand-operated switches with those contacts of the guiding selector, which cause the switching-electromagnets M, W and I to stop regarding the initial date of 8th November 1738 respectively to start regarding the nal date of 6th February 1793. These switching-occurrences will be described more particularly below.

It happens that certain wire-connections pass over alternative contacts SI, S2, S3 (in resting position for our example) resp. il, i2, i3 (in make position for our example) these connections are marked in the Table IV. The operating circuit for the connected-in-parallel relays J l and J2 actuating the contacts il, i2 and i3 is prepared by the switch Z having been set by hand into position i9 (corresponding to decade 179), as above-mentioned. The below-described circuit 25 shows how this operation will be started.

The wire-connection-numbers in the columns dI, dII and dIII are deducted from the abovementioned characteristics as follows: Each days characteristic must be reduced by one unit, whereas five units are added to each monthly characteristic for allowing the practical fabrication of the wire-connections to be realizable. For 8th November 1738, i. e., the days characteristic 8 is to be represented by the 7th selectors contact, while to the months characteristic 5 corresponds the 19th selectors contact for a period of 23 days. For 6th February 1793 the characteristics undergo the same translations; 6 to 5, resp. 8 t0 13, etc.

With reference to the decades and yearly units, and as far as the periodical occurrence with the 23 day-period is concerned, the selector steps coincide with the characteristics indicated in Tables II and III. The characteristics corresponding to the occurrences with 28 dayand 33 day-period, and consequently the number of steps indicated in the columns dII and dIII, have been ascertained in the same manner as those of column dI.

The former Equation 4 thus is transformed into:

which shows that the difference p is changed in no wise, because the translation values l and 5 annui themselves because of subtraction. All following calculations refer to Formula 4a).

Table IV Hand-operated Guiding Sclectors Hand-operated Guiding Sclectors Switch arms switch arms Dato Date l Arm step dl dlI dIlI Arm Step ril dll I dill Si... TI-1HI S 7 7 7 6 Tl-TIII G 5 5 Noi MI-HIII... ll l Feb MIMIIL f1 13 8 i. over S1 S2 S3 (resting pos.) 173 ZI-ZIV; 4 9 -9 l 179 ZI-ZIV l0 5 0 4 8 EI-EIV S 1 l0 1S 3 EIEIV... 4 l5 4| 7 OVCI` 1'1 l i:

(working pos The same principles allow to extend the Table IV for the wire-connections all together. According to Table I each months characteristic may be one unit larger or smaller for leap years with re'- gard to normal years; thus each contact of the hand-operated switch M is to he connected al ternatively to one or the other of two consecutive contacts oi the guide-selector, over switches Si, S2, S3 The wireeconnections of the Contact rows IV of the hand-'operated switches Z and E, completely drawn in Fig. 5, shows without diiile culty those switch positions which allow an eX- citation of the relay S for reversing the switches SI in concordance with Table' I. According to Table II, several year characteristics are one unit larger for odd decades with regard to even decades; thus the corresponding contacts of the hand-operated switch E are to be connected to couples of contacts of the guide-selector. Ac= cording to Fig. and Table II an excitation of the relays J l and J 2 for reversing the switches il is only possible if the arin 1V of the 'switch Z is posed on odd decade-numbers. More details are mentioned in the description oi our example of switching occurrences.

The four handoperated switches are set ac'- cording to the rst date and the key r'Il de= pressed. The relay C responds:

() Earth, controller arm vsil/'II in Zero position,

key Tal, contact o2, windings I and II of relay C, battery.

(2) Earth, contact c2, selector arrn dIV in position 35,. controller arm stVI in zero position. contact st, relay F, battery.

Each time the relay F is excited the step-by-A step switching coil St of the controller gets a Currer'lt impulse:

(3) Earth, contacts u2, f2, coil St, battery.

The controller is switched one step and takes up position l. The contact st switches off the relay F, which, on his part, disconnects St by means of f2. By means of st' VII and too by letting loose Tal the circuit (i) is interrupted twice.` The coil D of the guide selector is now excited over tk (4) Earth, contacts c3, f4, controller arm StVIII in position l, contact a6, coil D, battery.

The coil D attracts its armature and keeps this one by its own contact d2 and the selector arins dI to dV take up position 0. The armature contact dl excites the relay U:

(5)' Earth, contact dl, relay U together with the resistance Wil connected in parallel and condenser Ko battery.

Contact uit switches oi coil D. This latter and the relay U are acting together as automatic circuit-breakers, and the selector arms dI to dV are switched forward step by' step. The relay' is provided with a damping winding which, together with the resistance Wil arid the (5onden'ser Ko, acts in 'such a manner that the switching forward of the selector takes place at a.' delinite rate of speed. With each step of the selector the elctrornag'nets M, W and I are simultaneously excited over the contacts a3, ull and a5, Aso that the strips 5 actuated by these magnets are shifted each time' by one division in the direction indicated by the arrow P. The switching magnets M, W and I are excited over the circuits:

6) Earth, controller ann st'vir in position l,

contacts pm2 and u3, coil M, battery.

(i) Earth, controller arm stVII in position I,

contacts moi, c4, n4, coil W, battery (s) Earth, controller ann stvII in position l,

contacts pf2, c5, no, coil I, battery.

As soon as the selector arrn dI reaches the position 1, circuits are established for the test relays lim, lw and Pi:

(9) Earth, contact el, controller ann sein in position I, arno TIII of the hand-operated switch in position 8, guiding selectors arm dr in 'position 1, winding Il of the relay Pm, resistance W12, battery.

(lo) Earth,I contact cl, controller arm stII in position I", arm 'III of the hand-operated switch in position V8, selector arm dII in position l, winding I of the relay Pw, resistance Wi, battery.`

(ll) Earth, contact cl, controller arm stI in position l, arm of the hand=o`pe`rated switch in position s, selector ann dill in position 1 winding I of the relay Pi, resistance Wil, battery.

'The three relays m, Pw and Pi respond and hold:

(12) Earth, selector a'r'in dV on segment I-34,

rectifier Gl avoontacts es, ma, winding I of the relay- Pi3 resistance Will, battery.

(is) Earth, selector ann cv on segment, l-all,

'rectifier Gl s, contact et, r'ectine'r Gl 2, Contact iwB, winding I of the relay Pwg resistanceA Wil, battery.

(i4) Earth, selector erin dv on segment I-tll, rectifier GI 3, contact c6, rectier's Gl 2 and Gl l, contact pms, winding 'I of the relay Pm, resistance W, battery.

` y reversing the contacts pmi, 15u12 and pri the circuits 6, 'l and 8 are interrupted, thus stopping the strips M, W and I. n the other hand, the selector goesq on rotating and after one full revolution theselectr arms dI to dv come back to .position 375W.

The relay F is excited:

(15)' Earth, contact e2, selector arm div in position 35 momentarily closed contact ui, controller ann s'tVI in position I, contact st, relay F, battery.

As s result of tno response of 'one 'relay F the controller is switched forward into position 2. {Ilie selector starts' a new revolution and cornes into position u. Under' tneloelmg effect of the rectifier Gl 4 the noldingcircuits lz, I3 and I4 of the relays Pm, Pw and Pi are interrupted. The relay armatures drop down, so that the contacts pmZ, m02 and p12' are set back, thus re-establishimg the circuits 1 and 8.

The guiding selector D carries out one coniplete revolution. After it has reached the first step, the relay Pw is excited:

(16) Earth, contact ci. controller arm stII in potin 2, arir'i MII f the hand-operated switch iii position Il, selector arm dII in position I, winding I of the relay Pw, re sistance Wz'3, battery. f

The relay Pw keeps itself actuated in the cir cuit I3. By reversing the contact pwZ the circuit 1 is interrupted and consequently the strip having been actuated by the switching magnet (17) Earth, controller arm stIII in position 2,

arm MIII of hand-operated switch in position I I, selector arm dI in position IU, winding I of the relay Pm, resistance Wz`2, battery.

The relay Pm reverses its contact pm`2 and keeps itself actuated over the circuit I2. The strip having been actuated by the magnet M is stopped. The selector D goes on rotating and th'e strip actuated by the magnet I is alone switched forward until the arms dI to dV reach the twelfth step; the relay Pz' then responds:

(18) Earth, contact cI, controller arm stI in position 2, arm MI of hand-operated switch in position II, selector arm dIII in position I2, winding I of the relay Pz', resistance Wz`4, battery.

The relay Pz' stays in the circuit I4 and reverses its contact pz`2, thus stopping the strip I. The selector goes on rotating until its arms dI to dV reach step 35. The controller is switched forward in the manner already described and comes into position 3. The selector arm dV, arriving in position switches off the three relays Pm, Pw and Pz'. During the third revolution of the selector three processes similar to those just described take place. With the selector in position I the relay Pz' is again excited over the controller arm stI in position 3, the arm ZI of the handoperated switch in position 4 and the selector arm dIII. The strip corresponding to th'e magnet I has just been going forward one step. After the selector has reached the ninth step the relays Pm and Pw respond simultaneously. Only on completion of the third revolution is the controller brought into position 4 by the arm (ZIV. In position the arm dV causes the relays Pm, Pw and Pz to drop in the manner already described.y The selector starts a new revolution and, in position I, the relay Pm, over the arms EIII in position I, is made to respond.

After th'e tenth position theselector causes the relay Pw to respond; after the 18th positionthe relay Pz'. At the end of the fourth revolution the arm dIV brings the controller St into position 5. The registering process of the rst date is now completed. The forward switching circuit 4 of the selector D is now interrupted by the controller arm stVIII in position 5.

The strip M was thus shifted 7-l-10l-9+1 steps in the direction of the arrow P4. The aggregate characteristic for the starting day of the periodical occurrence KOM is therefore found to be:

Since the period is of 23 days, the actual sluiting of the strip M amounts, however, to KOMI4=2723=4 steps.

The strip W was shifted 7+1-l-9-l- 10 steps:

The shifting of the strip I amounts to 38 steps as follows:

Since the period of the third occurrence is 33 12 days the actual shifting of the strip I amounts to Ko1+4=3833=5 steps.

The hand-operated switches I to 4 shall now be set according to the date 6th February 1793. The key Ta2 is depressed, the relay F excited:

(19) Earth, key Ta2, controller arm stVI in position 5, contact st, relay F, battery.

The controller is brought into position 6. The forward switching circuit 4 for the selector is re-established by the arm stVIII and the selector D carries out four new consecutive revolutions. Since the controller arm stVII is in position 6 there are no forward switching circuits for the magnet coils M, W and I, st that the strips stand still. As soon as the selector has completed five steps, the three relays Pm, Pw, Pz' which stay over their own contacts @m3, pw3, pz'3 in the circuits I2, I3 and I4 are simultaneously excited. As previously described, the exciting circuits` of these relays pass through the controller arms stIII, stII and stI, the arms TIII, TII and TI of the hand-operated switches, newly set, and the selector arms dI, dII and dIII. The selector goes on rotating and the three magnet coils M, W and I now receive current impulses over the circuits:

(20) Earth, controller arm stVII in position 6,

contacts pm2 and u3, magnet coil M, battery,

(21) Earth, controller arm stVII in position 6, contacts pwZ, c4 and u4, magnet coil W, battery.

(22) Earth, controller arm stVII in position B, contacts pz`2, c5 and a5, magnet coil I, battery,

The selector D goes on rotating until the arm dIV reaches the position 23. The following circuit is now established:

(23) Earth, contact c2, selector arm dIV in position 23, contact rml, winding II of the relay Pm, controller arm stIV in position 6, resistance,l winding II of the relay V, battery.

The windings I and II of the relays Pm, Pw and Pi are Wound in opposite senses. The relay Pm is thrown OIT when its winding II is excited. By setting back the contact pmZ the impulse circuit 20 for the magnet coil M is interrupted and the corresponding strip stopped. The selector, however, goes on rotating until the arm ZIV reaches the position 28, whereby current is brought to flow in the winding II of the relay Pw:

(24) Earth, contact c2, selector arm dIV in position 28, contact pwI, winding II of the relay Pw, controller arm stIV in position 6, resistance winding II of the relay V, battery.

The relay Pw is also thrown off and the impulse circuit 2| of the magnet coil W is interrupted by setting back the contact pw2. In the same manner the excitation of the relay Pz' is cut off when the selector arm dIV reaches the position 33. In position 35 the arm dIV causes the controller to be switched forward into position 'I and, when the revolution is completed, the arm dI reaches the position I I. It should be noticed that, at the second setting of the hand-operated switches, the arm ZIV was brought into position |19, which is identical to its 10th contact-step, and the arm EIV into position 4. We have now 13 to investigate whether the relay S and the relays J I and J2 have been excited. For the relays J l and J2 the circuit:

() Earth, contacts c3, v2, arm ZIV of the hand-operated switch in position |19 (i. e., 10th step), relays J l and J 2 parallel, battery,

Is only established as and when the winding I of the slow-releasing relay V is put under current through reversing the contact u2. It does not matter if the contacts lil, i2 and i3 are adjoined to the relay J I or J2, the connection in parallel of two relays, J l and J2, is necessary, because the 12 alternating contacts i cannot be established on one single relay. In position 4 of the arm EIV of the hand-operated switch no circuit is established for the relay S. On completion of the revolution of the selector D the contact s3 decides whether the relay Pi shall respond over position 2 or over position 3 of the arm dIII. Since the relay S is not under current the Contact s3 is in a position of rest, so 'that the relay Pi only responds when the arm @III reaches the step 3, The impulse circuit for the magnet coil I is then established through reversal of the contact pi2. In position |19 (i. e., 10th step) of the arm ZIV of the hand-operated switch the relays J l and J 2 are excited. The contacts il, i2 and i3 are reversed, the contact i2 thus deciding that the relay Pwy shall only respond when the selector arm dII reaches the step 4. The selector goes on rotating and the arm dI reaches the step i2. Since the relay S has not responded owing to the arm EIV of the handoperated switch being set on step 4, which is identical with the third year unit, the arm dI gets into position I3. The contact si now causes the relay Pm to respond. During the further rotation of the selector the arm cZIV reaches one after the other the positions 23, 28 and 33, so that the armatures of the relays Pm, Pw and Pi drop one after the other. In position of the selector the arm dIV brings the controller into position B; on reaching the position the arm cZII causes the relay Pw to be excited. The impulse circuit for the magnet coil M is established, and the corresponding strip again switched forward. In position d the arm dIII excites the relay Pi; in position the arm cZI-the relay Pm, so that the magnet coils I and M are actuated one after the other, When the selector arm dIV reaches the positions 28 and 33, the armatures of the relays Pm, Pw and Pz' drop one after the other and the strips actuated by the magnets M, W, I are stopped. In position 35 the arm dIV brings the centroller into position Si. Arms dII, dIII and dI, on reaching the positions Il, 'i and l5cause the relays Pw, Pi and Pm te respond one after the other. lIhe strips M, W and I are switched forward until the arm (ZIV reaches the positions 23, 28 and 33. Thereupon the armatures of the three relays Pm, Pw and Pi drop, thus stopping the strips IVI, W and I. In position 35 the arm dIV brings the controller into position i6 and the forward switching circuit d of the selector is interrupted by the arm stVIII. The strips stay in the positions reached until the key 'Ia3 is depressed. It should be noticed that after the second setting of the hand-operated switches and after depressing the key Ta?, the strips M, W and I do not any longer carry out the number of steps marked on the contact plate by these hand-operated switches, but in each case a number of steps equal to the difference between the numbers marked and 23, 28 and 33 respectively. The numbers of steps carried out by the strips in the course of the second calculating process are therefore the complements to 23, 28 and 33, respectively, of the 5 numbers indicated by the selector arms. This result is made possible by the arrangement of the controller arms stIV, stVII, of the selector arm dIV, and or" the relays Pm, Pw and Pz' wound as differential relays. In the course of the second calculating process the strip M was therefore shifted:

(2S-5) -1- (Z3-13) -i-(23-5) -i-(23-15) :54 steps.

The effective shifting as compared with the initial position thus amounts to 54-2 23:8 steps. This shifting is automatically added to the shifting KQM+4:4 (see Equation 7) derived from the initial date. The total shifting, from the start or the whole process, amounts therefore to ril-8:12 steps. 12 is the complement of 11 to 23; this follows from the relation:

wherein Koni-4:4; follows again (from Equation 7); furthermore K'xM is:

in which 5, 13, 5 and 15 are the numbers of contacts marked on the contact plate by the handoperated switches. From this sum the period K:23 is to be subtracted:

The calculation was thus carried out according to the relation:

40 In the zero-position the numbers 6 of all strips were coinciding with the number 6 of the fixed date scale (equal to the day number of the 6th February 1793). The strip M having been shift- .45 ed by 12 steps in the complementary sense indicated by the arrow (Fig. 4), the date number 6 is now opposed to the strip number 17. By subtracting these two numbers 17-6:11 we get the wanted number 12:11 characterising the state y of M inquired into.

The same considerations apply to the strips W and I. In the course of the second calculating process the strip W was shifted:

(2S-5) -1(28-8) -i- (2S-0) 4428-4) :95 steps respectively, is also fulfilled.

The strip W is scaled so, that the strip number 24 communicates with the xed number 6 of the date scale. From their difference 24-6-:18 results the wanted number rif-18, characterising the state y or W inquired into.

The shifting of the strip I in the course of the second calculating process amounts to:

p=Ks+4 (Ko-l-4) :1Q-5:14

and

p=1r0+4+ l: (rr-KIM) i=5+ (s3-19) :19 (=complement of 14 to 33) are complied with. The strip I is scaled so, that the strips number communicates with the Xed number 6 of the date scale. From their difference 20-6=14 results the wanted number p=14 characterising the state y of M i inquired into.

On the basis of the above we arrive at the following solution of the problem:

The three periodical occurrences With periods of 23, 28 and 33 days respectively which all started on 8th November 1738 were, on 6th February 1793, in the following state: The first occurrence in the 11th day, the second occurrence in the 18th day, and the third occurrence in the 14th day of the period.

This can easily be proved, As previously ascertained, the timevinterval elapsed between 8th November 1738 and 6th Februan7 1793 is 19'814 days. During this interval:

man u 23 23 periods 0f the first occurrence,

periods of the second occurrence, and

periods of the third occurrence, have elapsed.

To pass on to a new calculation the three strips must be put back into their initial position. This is effected by depressing the key Ta3.

The winding I of the relay C is short-circuited and the armature of the relay drops. The following circuit is thus established for the relay U:

(26) Earth, controller arm stV in position IU,

contact mi), contact m, relay U, battery.

The forward switching coil M is fed with current over:

(27) Earth, controller arm stVII in position l0,

contact a3, coil M, battery.

(28) Earth, contact c2, controller arm stV in position l 0, contacts m0, st, relay F, battery.

The relay F responds and the contact ,f2 causes the controller to be switched forward into posi- 16 tion H. A circuit is now established for the relay U over the contact w0:

(29) Earth, contact c2, controller arm stV in position I l, contacts w0 and w, relay U, battery.

The coil W is fed with current:

(30) Earth, controller arm stVII in position Il,

contact ud, coil W, battery.

The coil W and the relay U act as relay breakers until the strip actuated by the magnet W has reached a position corresponding to the initial position of the strip M. The contact wU is then reversed and the relay F again excited:

(31) Earth, Contact c2, controller arm stV in position l l contacts w, st, relay F, battery.

The controller is switched forward into position l2 and the relay U excited:

(32) Earth, contact c2, controller arm stV in position l2, contacts i0, z', relay U, battery.

The coil I is fed With current over:

(33) Earth, controller arm stVII in position I2,

contact a5, coil I, battery.

The strip I is brought step by step into the initial position; the contact i0 thus reversed switches in the relay F:

(34) Earth, contact c2, controller arm stV in position l2, contacts i0, st, relay F, battery.

The controller cornes into position D and the apparatus is ready to resume work.

`Whilst the strips are being put back into initial position the selector D remains unaiected. The relay V responds and holds up its armature in attracted position as long as the relay U is active, i. e., as long as the Contact u2 excites the Winding VI by impulses. The contact vl causes the signal lamp BL to light up. This warns the operator that he shall not perform any manipulation. As soon as the selector, the strips and the controller are stopped the winding I of the relay V remains Without current, thus causing the signal lamp BL to go out.

In the case of any mistake in setting the handoperated switches, makingit necessary to put the strips back into initial position before the calculating process is completed, the key Ta3 is to be depressed. The relay C thus short-circuited is caused to drop and the controller occupying any position between l and l0 is subjected to current impulses. The relay F is excited:

(35) Earth, contact c2, controller arm stv, contact st, relay F, battery.

The contact f2 switches in the coil St and the controller comes into the next position. The contact st switches orf the relay F; this latter and the coil St act together as circuit-breakers and the controller is switched forward step by step until it reaches position l0. The coils M, W and I are then set to work one after the other in the manner previously described and the corresponding strips are brought back into their initial position. Simultaneously with the dropping of the relay C the selector D is stopped through the opening of the contact c3. Current feeding to the coil D of the selector is only resumed When the controller is set to position 0:

(36) Earth, selector arm dV, segment |34, rec- `tiiier Gl 4, controller arm st VIII in position U, contact uS, coil D, battery.

The contact dl switches in the relay U which together with the coil D acts as relay breaker in such a manner that the selector D is brought into position 35. The calculating process can now be resumed.

The present invention is not limited to the one constructional example described. Other forms of execution are conceivable, more particularly as far as the inscriptions on the scales are concerned. Instead of using period days the strips could be inscribed with any other value characterising the state y of an occurrence p under consideration (Fig. 1), e. g., hours, miles or otherunits of time resp. length. If, for instanca, for any strip, the state of an occurrence is a known function of the characterising value,

i. e., if, e. g., for each characterising value p=the valueof the state y of the occurrence may be.

expressed by numerical values, it will be `possible representing the state y of they occurrence. It is ralso easily possible to indicate these values by relative numbers, for instance .in-.percentages lor in a graphical manner.

The chief function of the present inventions apparatus is the automatical calculation of the value p characterising th estate whereas the additional subjective work of thinking is quite unessential even if the state of the periodical oc.- currence should be read from a table or graphical diagram separated from the shifted strips.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the `determination* of a. momentary status ofk any periodical occurrence, the duration period and, the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality of manually operated setting organs adapted to be moved to one set ofpositions indieating` said starting moment and to anotherset of positionsA` indicating the time of the momentary status desired,l an indicating organ,r electromagnetic means for` shifting said indicating organ step by step,I means connecting said setting organs with said electromagnetic means ener.- gizing said electromagnetic means to movesaid indicating4 organautomatically ay number of steps characterizing. saidstarting moment and further to `move said indicating, organ a number of stepsk correspondingto a complement of the value characterizingl the momentary status tofanother value fixed in advance, all in accordance with the position of the above-mentionedsetting organs and separate switches connected with` thevlastmentioned, means for initiating thetwomovements of said indicating organ, and for resetting it to/theinitial position ksaid twomovements being in the same direction.

2. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence, the duration period and` the starting moment of which areknown, comprising incombination, a plurality of manuallyL operated setting organs having a plurality of contacts and adapted to be moved to one set` ot positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time of the momentary status desired, any indicating organ comprising at least one endless strip4 having av scale thereon, electromagnetic means for shifting said strip step by step, a, rotary.` selector having a plurality of contacts, means connecting the contacts of said rotaryy selector with the contacts of saidy setting organs,y meansl connecting said rotaryl selector with said electromagnetic meansenergizing said electromagnetic. means to move said indicatingv organ automatically a number of steps characterizing saidstarting moment when said organs ed with the last mentioned means for initiating the twomovements of saidv indicating organ, said movements being` inthe same direction.

3; Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status .of any periodicall occurrence, the, duration periody and the `starting moment. of which areknown, comprising, in combination a plurality` of manually operatedsetting organs havingarins andcont-acts adapted to be selectively engaged'by saidA arms, said arms being adapted to be moved to. one set of positionsv indieating saidstarting moment or toL another set otpositionsindicating the time of the momentary status desired, an indicating organ, electroriiagneticY means for shiftingsaid indicating organ step by step, a rotary selector having arms and contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by said arms, means connecting the contacts of said set,- ting organswith the contacts of said selector, means connectedwith the arms ol. said selector and' saidY electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to, move saidv indicating organ automatically a number` o stepsv characterizlg Said starting moment when said organs are in the first-mentioned positions or further to move saidyindicating organ a number of stepsA corresponding to a, complement ofthe value characteriZng thejmomentary status to another valuev fixed in advance, the. last-mentioned means constituting electricaljcircuits each ofwhich includes an arm of the selector and anarm of a settingorgan, andcomprisingat least one test relay inat leastone of said electrical circuits,l and separatel switches connected with` the last mentionedjmeansfor initiating the two movements of the said indicating organ.

4. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality ofA manually operated setting organs having arms andcontacts adaptedto be selectively engaged by said arms, said arms being adaptedto be moved to one set of positions indicatingsa-id starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time of the momentaryv status desiredan indica-tingy organ, electromagnetic' means for shifting said indicating organV step by; step, a rotary selector having arms and contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by said` arms, means connecting the contacts of said setting organsA with the contacts ofy said selector, ymeans connected with the arms of said selector and said electromagnetic means and confstituting electrical circuits each of which includes an arm of the selector and an arm oija setting organ, and at leastone ofsaid electrical circuits comprising atA least one test relay, means connectedwith said` relay and said electromagnetic means energizing said magnetic means to provide an intermittent movement of said indicating organ and thereby move said indicating organ automatically a number of steps characterizing said starting moment when said` organs are in` the first-mentioned positions or further to move said indicating organ a number of steps corresponding to a complement of the value characf terizing. the momentary status to another value fixed in advance, and separate switches connected 19 with the last mentioned means for initiating the two movements of the said indicating organ.

5. Apparatus for the determination of a momenta-1y status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality of manually operated setting organs having arms and contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by said arms, said arms being adapted to be moved to one set of positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time or the momentary status desired, an indicating organ, electromagnetic means for shifting said indicating organ step by step, a rotary selector having arms and contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by said arms, means connecting the contacts of said setting organs with the contacts of said selector, and means connected with the arms of said selector and said electromagnetic means and constituting electrical circuits each of which includes an arm of the selector and an arm of a setting organ, and at least one of said electrical Circuits comprising at least one test relay having an armature and windings adapted to attract said armature or to cause it to drop, and means connected with said relay and said electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to move said indicating organ automatically a number of steps characterizing said starting moment when said organs are in the rst-mentioned positions or further to move said indicating organ a number of steps corresponding to a complement of the value characterizing the momentary status to another value Xed in advance and separate switches connected with the last mentioned means for initiating the two movements of the said indicating organ.

6. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality of manually operated setting organs adapted to be moved to one set of positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time of the momentary status desired, an indicating organ, electromagnetic means for shifting said indicating organ step by step, means connecting said setting organs with said electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to move said indicating organ automatically a number of steps characterizing said starting moment when said organs are in the iirst-mentioned positions or further to move said indicating organ a number of steps corresponding to a complement of the value characterizing the momentary status to a value characterizing the duration period and separate switches connected with the last mentioned means for initiating the two movements of the said i11- dicating organ.

7. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, said duration period consisting of a definite number of days, and the time of the momentary status to be determined being removed from said starting moment by any number of years, months and days, comprising a plurality of manually operated switches setting separately numbers corresponding to years, months and days and adapted to be moved to one set of positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time of the momentary status desired, an indicating organ, electromagnetic means for shifting said indicating organ step by step, means connecting said switches with said electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to move said indicating organ automatically a number of steps characterizing said starting moment when said organs are in the first-mentioned positions or further to move said indicating organ a number of steps corresponding to a complement of the value characterizing the momentary status to` a value characterizing the duration period, and separate switches connected with the last mentioned means for initiating the two movements of the said indicating organ.

8. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, said duration period consisting of a definite number of days, and the time of the momentary status to be determined being removed from said starting moment by any number of years, months and days, comprising a plurality of manually operated switches setting separately numbers corresponding to decades, individual years, months and days and adapted t0 be moved to one set of positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time of the momentary status desired, an indicating organ, electromagnetic means for shifting said indicating organ step by step, means connecting said switches with said electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to move said indicating organ automatically a number of steps characterizing said starting moment when said organs are in the firstmentioned positions or further to move said indicating organ a number of steps corresponding to a complement of the value characterizing the momentary status to a value characterizing the duration period, and separate switches connected with the last mentioned means for initiating the two movements of the said indicating organ.

9. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality of manually operated setting organs having arms and contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by said arms, said arms being adapted to be moved to indicate numerals corresponding to said starting moment or to indicate other numerals corresponding to the time of the momentary status desired, an endless strip constituting an indicating organ, electromagnetic means for shifting said strip in one direction step by step, a rotary selector having arms and contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by said arms, conducting wires connecting the contacts of said setting organs with the contacts of said selector, means connected with the arms of said selector and said electromagnetic means and comprising at least one test relay and means connected with said relay energizing said electromagnetic means to move said strip automatically a number of steps corresponding to the rst-mentioned numerals or further to move said strip a number of steps corresponding to the complements of said other numerals to numerals corresponding to the duration period, and separate switches connected with the last mentioned means for initiating the two movements of the said indicating organ.

10. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of any periodical occurrence the duration period and the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality of manually operated setting organs adapted to be moved to one set of positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positions indicating the time of the momentary status" desired, an indicating organ, electromagnetic means for shifting said indicating organ step by step, means connecting said setting organs with said electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to move said indicating organ automatically a number of steps characterizing said lstarting moment when said organs are in the first-mentioned positions, to move said indieating organ in the same direction a number of steps corresponding to a complement of the value characterizing the momentary status to another value iixed in advance, or to move said indicating organ back to its initial position, and three separate switches connected with the last-mentioned means for separately initiating said movements of the indicating organ.

11. Apparatus for the determination of a momentary status of periodical occurrences the duration periods and 'the starting moment of which are known, comprising, in combination, a plurality of manually operated setting organs having a plurality of contacts and adapted to be moved to one set of positions indicating said starting moment or to another set of positionsy indicating the time of the momentary status desired, three separate strips constituting separate indicating organs for occurrences of different duration periods and provided with scales inscribed so as to be read simultaneously, electromagnetic means for separately shifting said strips stepwise, a single rotary selector having a plurality of contacts, means connecting the contacts of said rotary selector With the contacts of said setting organs, means connecting said rotary selector with said electromagnetic means energizing said electromagnetic means to move the three indicating organs simultaneously a number of steps characterizing said starting moment when said organs are in the first-mentioned positions or further to move said indicating organs a number of steps corresponding t0 a complement of the value characterizing the momentary status to Values characterizing the duration period, and separate switches connected with the last mentioned means for initiating the tWo movements of the said indicating organ.

WERNER LENZLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

